2 Cycle rides on Arran

9th August 2013

I also did a couple of great cycles on Arran as well as the 5 ferries.  The Ross and south loop on my own, and the west coast and the "String" with Janice and Murray.

31 miles ; 2 hours 13 minutes ; 14 miles per hour

Holy Isle, looking across from Lamlash

The climb over the Ross - climbs to 800 feet (250m) above sea level

Heading west over the middle of the Island on the Ross

Looking along the south coast towards the Ayrshire Coast - the little island of Pladda can be seen

Kildonan - on the South side of Arran - the Island of Pladda, and in the far distance Ailsa Craig, can be seen

Holy Isle as seen from Whiting Bay, on the South East corner of Arran

The second ride was across the String to Blackwaterfoot, along the west coast to Machrie, and back to Brodick; around 30 miles in total - my iPhone battery ran dry at 19 miles!

Janice and Murray at the top of the String after the climb from Blackwaterfoot on the west coast

Isle of Eigg, Scotland

11 August 2013

As part of my sailing holiday in Scotland, I did a day trip by boat from Arisaig to the Isle of Eigg, and the bonus was I could hire a slightly ropey mountain bike to explore the island.  The weather was pretty gloomy. I suppose by August in Scotland you don't expect a hot summer, and it started raining very heavily half way through the ride, so I had to don waterproofs which I fortunately had. But you forget about these things afterwards, especially when there is such a good cafe here, and the scenery is wild and desolate.

13 Miles along a track south of the Sgurr Mountain to start, then I followed the only road to the North of the Island; there were no doubt more tracks to explore if I had had the time

Very steep track leaving Galmisdale, quite rough in places, and quite a few ups and downs along the way

Galmisdale Bay at Southern end; you can see the Sgurr from a long way away

Still smiling despite the pouring rain;
on the ro-ro ferry jetty

View of Galmisdale with cafe and bike hire hut - had to wait for the  bike man to come down from his house; there is also a shop where I saw some Germans buying beer and Drambuie before their bike ride

The Sgurr - you can climb it from the other side

Having left Galmisdale, I climbed a very steep track and then found this track along the south side of the Sgurr

Not ridden a mountain bike for ages - getting used to riding across rough ground; glad I was fit

Nice tracks for a mile or two but it became impassable eventually as I headed west

Isle of Muck, from Eigg

The track once I turned northwards along the spine of the Island to join the 'main' road

Heading up to Cleadale, a little hamlet where the road stops - but for the rain and lack of time, I would have continued on the track further north

Some Italians came to the Island, and never left (?)

Bay of Laig beach on the west coast, steep rough path from the 'main' road to get here

Bay of Laig Beach with Isle of Rhum behind in the cloud

Heading back south again - is that the mainland in the distance?

Back in the cafe in Galmisdale - much appreciated after the rain and cold

Hungry work is cycling - very tasty fish cakes and salad